Memphis, TN · Shelby County
Tree removal in Memphis
Memphis tree removal is driven by two kinds of storms: summer straight-line winds, like the 2003 "Hurricane Elvis" derecho that uprooted trees across Midtown, and ice storms, like February 2023's, that broke limbs onto power lines across the city. Trees near MLGW lines are pruned or removed by MLGW's contract crews; trees on your property are yours to manage.
On July 22, 2003, a derecho with winds over 100 mph tore through Shelby County. Midtown streets lined with big oaks were hit hardest, and more than 1.1 million cubic yards of tree debris were collected in the weeks after. Twenty years later, the February 2023 ice storm cut power to more than 230,000 MLGW customers, mostly from ice-loaded limbs falling into lines.
That history explains the questions Memphis homeowners ask: is this big oak over the house still sound, what can be done before the next ice storm, and who handles the limbs on the power line. Older neighborhoods like Midtown, East Memphis and Chickasaw Gardens have large willow oaks, water oaks and pecans that are now old enough to be declining.
Reviewed and updated
What 2003 and 2023 taught Memphis about its trees
What hit
- July 2003 derecho ("Hurricane Elvis")
- Straight-line winds over 100 mph
- February 2023 ice storm
- Freezing rain coating limbs and lines
How trees failed
- July 2003 derecho ("Hurricane Elvis")
- Large trees uprooted and toppled, many onto houses and lines
- February 2023 ice storm
- Limbs broke under ice weight and fell into power lines
Scale
- July 2003 derecho ("Hurricane Elvis")
- More than 1.1 million cubic yards of tree debris collected
- February 2023 ice storm
- Power cut to more than 230,000 MLGW customers
Lesson for owners
- July 2003 derecho ("Hurricane Elvis")
- Big, aging trees near houses deserve assessment before summer
- February 2023 ice storm
- Weak forks and long limbs over lines should be reduced before winter
Derechos, ice and aging oaks
Derechos and straight-line winds
Summer storms can uproot many large trees at once, as in July 2003.
Ice storms
Freezing rain loads limbs onto lines; February 2023 left hundreds of thousands without power.
Aging oaks in older neighborhoods
Large water oaks and willow oaks planted decades ago are reaching the age where decay and limb failure increase.
Tornadoes and spring storms
The Mid-South sees severe spring weather that brings down limbs and trees.
When to have a big oak looked at
Any of these on a large tree that can reach the house is worth a risk assessment before the summer storm season.
- Mushrooms or conks at the base or on large roots.
- Dead limbs in the upper crown, or a thinning top.
- Cavities, cracks or bark falling away on the trunk.
- Roots cut for a sidewalk, driveway, sewer or foundation repair in the past few years.
- A limb that broke on a calm day, which often points to decay.
MLGW and right-of-way trees
- MLGW's contract crews trim trees that endanger power lines or block street lights, and may remove a tree whose trunk is within about 10 to 15 feet of a pole line if it endangers the line.
- Removing trees in the public right-of-way involves the City of Memphis, and city code requires replacement of right-of-way trees, including those removed by utilities.
Sources (checked 2026-10-01)
Rules change and details depend on your exact property. Confirm with the city or county before work starts. This isn't legal advice.
Willow oaks, water oaks and pecans
- Willow oak
- Big Midtown street and shade trees; aging
- Water oak
- Fast-growing, relatively short-lived and decay-prone
- Pecan
- Heavy limbs that break in ice and wind
- Southern magnolia
- Evergreen leaves hold ice; branches bend and break
- Bradford pear and silver maple
- Weak forks and brittle wood in suburban yards
Midtown lots and lines along the street
Midtown and East Memphis lots have large trees close to houses and overhead lines running along streets and rear lot lines. MLGW clears trees around its distribution lines; work on a tree in contact with a line should wait for MLGW. Suburban lots in Cordova and Germantown have more room for equipment.
Memphis services for wind and ice
Aging water oaks and willow oaks over houses.
Derecho and ice storm cleanup.
Reducing limbs over roofs and lines before ice season.
Trees on houses after summer storms.
Declining oaks and split pears.
Memphis tree questions
Will MLGW remove a tree that's on my power line in Memphis?
MLGW handles trees endangering its distribution lines. Call MLGW at 901-544-6549 for a tree in contact with a line, and call 911 if a line is down and sparking. Don't let a private crew cut a tree that's touching a line.
Is my big Midtown oak likely to fall?
Age alone doesn't mean it will, but older water oaks in particular develop decay. Look for mushrooms at the base, cavities, dead limbs and cracks, and have a large oak over the house assessed before storm season.
How do I prepare Memphis trees for ice storms?
Have dead limbs, weak forks and long limbs over the roof and lines reduced in the dormant season. Magnolias, pecans and pears break most in ice.
Calls are routed to independent local tree-service providers. How calling works
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Need tree help in Memphis?
Call to speak with a local tree-service provider about removal, trimming, stumps or storm damage. Describe the tree and what it's near, and they'll explain the next step.